System and method for accommodating aftertreatment bricks

Abstract

One or more aftertreatment bricks are axially inserted through an opening in the first end of a tubular sleeve of an aftertreatment system. The aftertreatment brick includes a substrate matrix and a mantle disposed around the substrate matrix. The mantle further includes a lip arranged to extend through the opening of the sleeve. One or more channel pockets are secured proximate to the opening of the sleeve and oriented radially outward with respect to the sleeve axis. To retain the aftertreatment brick in the sleeve, a clamping assembly is used that includes a hook, a fastener, and a capture nut. The capture nut is installed and accommodated in the channel pockets. The hook engages the protruding lip of the aftertreatment brick and the fastener secures the hook to the capture nut received in the channel pocket.

We claim: 
     
       1. An aftertreatment module comprising:
 a sleeve extending between a first end and a second end along a sleeve axis, and an opening formed at the first end of the sleeve; 
 an aftertreatment brick inserted axially in the sleeve, the aftertreatment brick including a substrate matrix and a mantle disposed around the substrate matrix, the mantle including a lip extendable through the opening of the sleeve; 
 a channel pocket secured proximate to the opening of the sleeve and oriented radially outward with respect to the sleeve axis; and 
 a clamping assembly including a hook, a fastener, and a capture nut receivable in the channel pocket, wherein the hook engages the lip and the fastener secures the hook to the capture nut received in the channel pocket. 
 
     
     
       2. The aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly further includes a compression body delineating a bore for receiving the fastener through the compression body. 
     
     
       3. The aftertreatment module of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener and the bore of the compression body align along a fastener axis that is substantially parallel to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
       4. The aftertreatment module of  claim 3 , wherein the compression body includes a plurality of beads longitudinally aligned along the bore and configured to longitudinally collapse with respect to the fastener axis under application of a compressive force. 
     
     
       5. The aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the channel pocket is a U-shaped structure including a faceplate extending between a first depending leg and a second depending leg, the channel pocket providing a pocket between the faceplate and the first and second depending legs for accommodating the capture nut. 
     
     
       6. The aftertreatment module of  claim 5 , wherein the faceplate has a channel disposed therein from an edge toward a center of the faceplate, the channel oriented radially outward from the sleeve. 
     
     
       7. The aftertreatment module of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate matrix extends between a first face and a second face, and the lip extends beyond the first face. 
     
     
       8. The aftertreatment module of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate matrix has a cylindrical shape, and the mantle is tubular and disposed around the cylindrical shape of the substrate matrix, and the lip is circular. 
     
     
       9. A method of retaining an aftertreatment brick in an aftertreatment module, the method comprising: inserting an aftertreatment brick into a sleeve of an after treatment module, the aftertreatment brick including a lip and inserted so that the lip protrudes from an opening of the sleeve; engaging the lip with a hook so that the aftertreatment brick is retained in the sleeve; and securing the hook to the aftertreatment module. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sleeve delineates a sleeve axis, and engagement of the hook and the lip constrains movement of the longitudinal sleeve along the sleeve axis. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a capture nut in a channel pocket mounted to the aftertreatment module proximate the opening of the sleeve; and 
 fastening the hook to the capture nut with a fastener. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener is aligned along a fastener axis that is substantially parallel to the sleeve axis. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising compressing a compression body between the fastener and the capture nut to assert a counter-force along the fastener axis. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising inserting a plurality of aftertreatment catalysts into the sleeve. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising removing the aftertreatment brick by the step of: i) unfastening the fastener from the capture nut; or ii) severing the fastener from the capture nut.